What Happens After Season Ends: The Fate of Malignant Hearts

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Malignant Hearts from Diablo 4's inaugural Season of the Malignant remain fully accessible long after the season concludes, carrying over seamlessly into the Eternal Realm and future seasons for enduring endgame power. Introduced in 2023, these socketable affixes continue to define builds in 2025's ongoing ladder, proving Blizzard's commitment to permanent mechanics over temporary gimmicks.

Carryover to Eternal Realm

Upon season end, all Malignant Hearts transfer directly to your Eternal Realm characters without loss or conversion. Slot them into amulets and rings as before, retaining full effects like Creeping Death DoT ramps or Tempting Fate crit trades. Eternal Realm serves as the timeless mode where seasonal progressions stabilize—farm remnants via legacy activities like Helltide elites or salvaging at the Alchemist. No power decay occurs; high-item-level Hearts with Greater Affixes still push Pit leaderboards alongside newer systems like Witchcraft Powers or Horadric spells.

Availability in Future Seasons

Current Season 10 (Infernal Chaos, live as of late 2025) integrates Malignant Hearts without restrictions, allowing hybrid setups with Chaos Perks or Infernal Hordes buffs. Blizzard's roadmap confirms no sunsetting: Season 11 launches December 9, 2025, preserving Hearts for jewelry optimization. Farm them eternally through Nightmare Dungeons with Malignant affixes, Kurast Undercity caches, or trading post—drops scale with World Tier, ensuring viability. Patches occasionally tweak balance, like minor Wrathful nerfs, but core functionality endures.

Strategic Implications Post-Season

Hearts excel in Eternal Realm for alts and ladder grinding, filling stat gaps where seasonal mechanics rotate out. Pair Vicious DPS amps with Tempering for timeless clears, or Brutal survivals for solo Tormented Varshan rematches. Tradeoffs include opportunity cost—slotting a Heart might displace a seasonal unique—but their reliability shines in non-seasonal play. Stash duplicates for multi-class swaps, as Rogue poison bursts or Barb fury cycles stay meta.

Long-Term Value and Alternatives

Malignant Hearts anchor buildcrafting amid evolutions like the 2026 expansion's ranking system. They offer consistent power without seasonal lockouts, unlike time-limited quests. If Hearts underperform in parses, pivot to Runewords or Occult Gems, but their affix diversity keeps them relevant for 95%+ of endgame slots. Monitor PTR notes for synergies, ensuring your hoard fuels climbs through Season 11's chaos waves.